Elected C-section? TMI perhaps!

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Although I do not have time to read all responses, I did read the first page.

I'm a mom of 4. The first 3 were vag. deliveries, and my 4th was a c-section.

My 3rd child was a large 9lb 9oz, and the Dr had a hard time delivering. It was bad. I will not even discuss unless someone is really curious about the details.

At any rate, after having one baby so large, I was desperately afraid of another bad delivery scenerio (we had almost lost that 3rd baby) I did let my Dr (a different more caring Doc!) that this was a concern of ours. We decided to induce labor at full term, expecting another vag delivery. Well, induction did not work for me! For 4 week-ends in a row, I was admitted to the hospital, induced, and eventually went home each Monday with no baby in my arms. On Tuesday, after the last induction, I went into labor on my own. That baby had some bit of trouble during the birth process and my Dr decided to take him through C-section. I would never never have done it another way-considering the experience I had been through with my DD # 3.

In short, I guess I would have to have a reason for opting for the C-section, but if there is a valid reason, I would not be afraid to have it done. All births are risky, and certainly travelling through the birth canal does not work out well for every baby anyway. If timing is your only problem, have you considered induction instead of C-section?

Good luck to you...I really love babies!!!! I hope this is a wonderful time in your life. ((Hugs to Momma))

Agreed, if you need one, no reason to not have it. I went into babies 2 and 3 knowing I needed to have them and it didn't prevent me from having more. If I wanted another I would have done it too but 3 was enough for us.

I guess what I get from reading this thread is there are good and bad deliveries and recoveries no matter how you have your child, but personally, I would give serious thought to a major surgery which may not but can have life long implications. Hopefully this thread has at least made you consider that.

Best of luck to you and your growing family!

 

[RMulieri]

I wouldn't..Csections come with risks ..lots of risks.

 

[kim_o]

Why not just have an elective induction? That way you avoid major surgery (and the recovery associated with it) but can still schedule your birth? I've had 3 successful elective inductions. IT's something you can't schedule unless your cervix is ripe and you hit 39 weeks, but other than that, it was nice to be able to arrange child care and plan for it in advance.

 

[Leajess99]

Has anyone chosen to have a c-section after ******l births? I ask bc I am 11 weeks pregnant and I have 2 other children that were delivered ******ly. I did not know that u could opt to have a c-section if u wanted it. I am thinking about it bc my husband works an hour from our house, I had to be cut with each pregnancy with the 2nd one being more. With my second child I went into labor at 11pm and thank goodness my DH best friend was right down the street at the time and was able to come over and stay while my 1st slept. He is no longer that close. The rest of the family is out of state or over an hour away. Any thoughts? TIA

I did not have a C-section but I did have a hysterectomy with 3 small children and I would NOT recommend electing for any type of major abdominal surgery. I had a friend who had to have an emergency c-section and she was miserable. I am sure you can find a friend who can help with the kids or when it gets close to time have a family member come stay with you.

 

[MMmomto5]

As you read in just this thread, each woman's experience is totally different. Some women recover quickly from ******l delivery and some recover from c-sections just as quick. There are complications and limitations with both types of deliveries, and you never know until you're there how you'll end up feeling. That said, it is statistically proven that a ******l birth is safer for mom and baby, and that healing is faster with a ******l delivery.

I've delivered 8 babies including a set of twins (one of whom was breech), and the only c-section I had was with my second child who was breech. I was young and didn't know that I had other options and different techniques were available to try to turn my baby. I had a fine c-section and although I mourned the fact that he had to be born surgially, my recovery was just a bit slower than a ******l delivery. The negative of my c-section came for my son who has had respiratory problems since birth. Bouts of pneumonia, RSV, bronchitis and bronchilitis, and now he deals with a pretty bad case of asthma. I'll never know if it was the c-section that caused him to have these troubles, but I wouldn't take the risk again.

I had two out of state deliveries and you would be surprised at how many friends,neighbors, co-workers would be willing to help out, even at 2 in the morning.. For our third child we hired a baby-sitter midway through he pregnancy to be "on call" for the big moment. The decision is up to you, but know that there are ways to work it out. Have you thought of hiring a doula who can be there to support you through labor in the case that your husband would need time to get to you?

 

[mjkacmom]

The negative of my c-section came for my son who has had respiratory problems since birth. Bouts of pneumonia, RSV, bronchitis and bronchilitis, and now he deals with a pretty bad case of asthma. I'll never know if it was the c-section that caused him to have these troubles, but I wouldn't take the risk again.

Interesting - my twins were my only children born c/s, and both have had viral induced asthma since they were babies, and my other kids have no issues.

OP, I was on call for a friend who had no family in town, and her ds was dropped off at my home at 5 am when she went into labor.

 

[Ar1el]

Why not just have an elective induction? That way you avoid major surgery (and the recovery associated with it) but can still schedule your birth? I've had 3 successful elective inductions. IT's something you can't schedule unless your cervix is ripe and you hit 39 weeks, but other than that, it was nice to be able to arrange child care and plan for it in advance.

I did not know that was an option but I will keep that in mind. Thanks.

 

[Coconuts]

I don't understand why any doctor would suggest major surgery when it isn't medically warranted.

I am both a nurse and a mother who has had 3 c-sections, and I would emphatically say not to have the c-section. Only my last one was elective, since after the first 2 my doctor said I would be at too much risk for a uterine rupture. I haven't had major complications (except a huge pooch) and had good births and recoveries so that's not my concern. This is MAJOR surgery and anything can go wrong at anytime. Don't do it if you don't have to.

 

[sweetsusannah]

I didn’t think about a correlation between breathing problems in a baby from having a C-section. My sister had to have one and her sweet little one was in NICU for fluid in his lungs for a couple weeks. It was heart wrenching to see her go through leaving the hospital without him. In a V*****l birth the baby has the time to transition from embryonic fluid to air. Who knows if he would have still had the problem.

On another note. A couple of you have given me hope on the pooch. I could stand to lose 5 maybe 10 lbs and I carry it on my belly from that huge kiddo I had, maybe if I can get that off the pooch will go away. Are all you ladies who are “poochless” also flat bellied?

 

[IcedMudd]

My DH worked an hour away on 2nd shift during my last pregnancy. Thankfully he was able to take one night off work on my due date and my little guy arrived that very next morning. He watched my older two at home, while my son was being born. I wouldn't opt for a csection. I like au naturale

 

[AmyBWV99]

I've had 2 sections the first emergent and the 2nd elective due to the baby measuring big like his brother. I wouldn't have chosen it the first time but honestly the recoveries were not a big deal to me. That was just my personal experience. If I were you I'd talk to your OB and decide what is the best option for you and your situation.

 

[Poohbear5]

I've had two csections, first after long labor with a baby who was too large to drop down; 2nd was emergency csection with twins.
I think it's shocking and irresponsible of a doc to offer the option of surgery over natural childbirth. It's major surgery to heal from. I would have much rather had the energy to focus on my newborns, rather than dealing with a painful incision.

 

[turkeymama]

I didn’t think about a correlation between breathing problems in a baby from having a C-section. My sister had to have one and her sweet little one was in NICU for fluid in his lungs for a couple weeks. It was heart wrenching to see her go through leaving the hospital without him. In a V*****l birth the baby has the time to transition from embryonic fluid to air. Who knows if he would have still had the problem.

On another note. A couple of you have given me hope on the pooch. I could stand to lose 5 maybe 10 lbs and I carry it on my belly from that huge kiddo I had, maybe if I can get that off the pooch will go away. Are all you ladies who are “poochless” also flat bellied?

I was poochless until I put 20 extra pounds on in the last couple of years (4 years after my last one was born). Prior to that, I was completely flat. So yes, I know if I lose some weight, I can have a flat tummy again.

 

[waltskids]

Why not just have an elective induction? That way you avoid major surgery (and the recovery associated with it) but can still schedule your birth? I've had 3 successful elective inductions. IT's something you can't schedule unless your cervix is ripe and you hit 39 weeks, but other than that, it was nice to be able to arrange child care and plan for it in advance.

This is what I did. DS's labor was very, very fast so for DD I was induced after a dr. appt showed I was 3-4 cm (no contractions at all). She was delivered at 38 weeks exactly and it was a great decision for us and I had no ambulance ride for DD like I had for DS
C-sections are major surgery with a longer recovery possible.

 

[Leajess99]

This is what I did. DS's labor was very, very fast so for DD I was induced after a dr. appt showed I was 3-4 cm (no contractions at all). She was delivered at 38 weeks exactly and it was a great decision for us and I had no ambulance ride for DD like I had for DS
C-sections are major surgery with a longer recovery possible.

Even with inductions one has to be careful because even at 38 weeks the baby may not be ready. This happened with another mom that was pregnant when I was and her daughter ended up in the NICU. A baby comes when they are ready and their are risks when forced out before they are ready.

 

[waltskids]

Even with inductions one has to be careful because even at 38 weeks the baby may not be ready. This happened with another mom that was pregnant when I was and her daughter ended up in the NICU. A baby comes when they are ready and their are risks when forced out before they are ready.

Our doctor decided that any small risk was worth me getting to the hospital on time as my 1st child was almost born in the ambulance ride to the hospital. They were very concerned my second labor would be faster and the hospital ride was 40 minutes away by car. It was a great decision for our family and I think each family needs to decide what works best for their situation (with the consent of the doctor of course).

 

[soontobewed07]

Has anyone chosen to have a c-section after ******l births? I ask bc I am 11 weeks pregnant and I have 2 other children that were delivered ******ly. I did not know that u could opt to have a c-section if u wanted it. I am thinking about it bc my husband works an hour from our house, I had to be cut with each pregnancy with the 2nd one being more. With my second child I went into labor at 11pm and thank goodness my DH best friend was right down the street at the time and was able to come over and stay while my 1st slept. He is no longer that close. The rest of the family is out of state or over an hour away. Any thoughts? TIA

I agree with others. I went thru 28 hours of labor with DS and had 18 attempts at my Epidural before they took me for an emergency C Section. Well the on call dr for the day took out my staples too soon and I had tearing at the sides of my incision which required DAILY stuffing of the wounds and changes it was AWFUL.
I was unable to hold my son for 48 hours and when we got home I couldn't lift him for 6 weeks and I couldn't drive etc....
What about asking the doctor to induce you? That way you could have a planned day to go in and it's more relaxed?

Good Luck with your choice and CONGRATS

 

[Aristomommy]

I personally would not have surgery (c-section) unless it was medically indicated. Convenience would not be enough to undergo it. I had two c-section, second one was an emergency after 12 hours of labor. The toll it takes on your body and taking care of baby while recovering is rough. I know in my area Dr.s love them because they can be scheduled like office visits, but they are not the ones dealing with the after effects.

 

[Mandychelle79]

I didn’t think about a correlation between breathing problems in a baby from having a C-section.

Sure there is. When a baby is going through the birth canal a lot if not all of the fluid is pushed out the lungs. In a section that squeezing doesnt happen.

My dd was a Mec baby and a natural birth. Because most of the meconium was pushed out of her lungs during delivery she was in the NICU for 4 day due to breathing problems

My bf dd was a Mec baby, born via c-section. She was in the NICU for 14 days because of breathing problems.

The neonatologists and the NICU nurses said that the natural birth is why she was doing so well.

 

[DVCLiz]

On the other hand, I had an elective C-section on my doctor's advice with my second child, and she was a mec baby, too. She spent 4 days in the NICU with breathing issues and came home fat and healthy when I was discharged. Each circumstance is different, I guess....